Jewelry clasp



Feb. l, l1944.

1J. STERN 2,340,708

JEWELRY CLASP Filed May 7, 1941 JACK STE/2N TTO RN E' Y..

Patented Feb. 1, 1944 UNITE-'D STA-TES PATENT OFFICE 2,340,703l f v IV JEWELRY CLASP Jaekstam, New Ytr'k,.N..Y. Application May-"r, 1941, Ser-ia1No.392;272 .1 claim. (C1. 2li-230' This invention relates generallyto improvements in jewelry clasps, but moreA particularly to a separable clasp used to connect articles of jewelry, including watches and medallions; to the ends of straps, clips, chainsand exble strings.'

The main object of the invention resides in the construction of' a separable clasp to=disengage ably connect articles of jewelry tothe ends of straps, clips, chains and flexible' strings so that any undue tension' along the' aXi's of the connected members will not result in the disengagement of the clasp. In the attachment between a wrist watch and the straps therefor, it is well known that the connecting joint becomes loose or disengaged when excessive tension is applied along the strap axis. This condition also exists between a pendant watch or other article of jewelry hanging from a chain, flexible string or clip member.

This invention contemplates a construction of a separable clasp wherein engagement and disengagement of its members take place, at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the joined pieces. In this manner of attachment, no amount of tension on the connected'pieces along the axis of the joined pieces can disengageLY the connection.

A further object of the invention resides in the construction of a separable clasp wherein the socket member is permanently secured to the jewelry piece and forms an aesthetic joint with the cooperating spring or latch member secured at the end of the connecting piece, wherein the clasp is easy to operate, is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claim.

Accompanying this specication, is a drawing showing a preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to different articles of jewelry and to different types of supporting members therefor, wherein corresponding reference char.-

acters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the separable clasp as applied to a wrist watch and to straps therefor.

Figure 2 is a front and enlarged view in elevation of a watch showing the clasp socket members secured to said watch and the cooperating spring or latch members in engaged and disengaged position with said socket members.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in perspective of the spring member of the separable clasp.

Figure iis anl enlarged view, partly in section, of Figure 2, taken'- along theplane 4"-4 thereof. Figure 5 isa front View in elevation of a' pendant watchA connected t'oavertic'al rnember'of` a clipbyf means of the separable clasp.

Figure'i is afront view in elevation of' a medallion connected toa flexible string bymeans of*4 the separable` clasp.

s In accordance withftheinvention and the preerred embodiments f shown', numeral'- =`I Il` indicates generally a wristwatch of any1 desirablesha'pe having conventional parts such as a back a, a center b, a bezel I2 and a crystal d. A socket member having a bottom opening is adapted to be secured on opposite edges I3 of the watch case center whereby a cooperating spring or latch Ameinber is easily accessible to the opening of each socket member for engagement therewith.

In the watch shown, opposite and parallel lateral shoulders II are formed between edges I3 of center b andthe raised convex lateral walls of bezel I2. A socket member having a bottom opening is adapted to be secured against each of the edges I3 of the center b and is comprised as shown of spaced front and rear walls I4 and I5 each with right-angle cutout for attachment to shoulder II and edge I3 intermediate the length. Connecting the said front and rear walls I4 and I5 is an outer wall I 6 and an inner wall I'I joined by a curved upper wall Ia. A bottom opening I9 is thus formed on each socket, edge I3 of center b serving as the inner wall thereof as seen in Figure 4 of the drawing. Secured to wall I3 opposite the upper edge of outer wall I6 of the socket member is a cross bar I8 between the front and rear walls I4 and I5, the upper wall of said cross bar I8 serving as an engaging flange for a detent shoulder of a spring or latch member.

The spring or latch member of the clasp is best shown in Figure 3. Spring walls 20 and 2I are bent in the form of a V, wall 20 being folded outwardly and downwardly at the upper end as at 25 to form a hook or engaging means with wall 20 for the outer wallV IE of the socket member. Wall 2| at the upper portion is reduced in thickness to provide a detent shoulder 22, the upper end of the reduced portion being curved outwardly as at 23. Intermediate the curved wall 23 is a finger engaging lug 24 for purposes of compressing the clasp for engagement and disengagement with the socket member. Detent shoulder 22 is adapted to engage the upper wall of cross-piece I8 for latching purposes.

A wrist watch strap 2'I, doubled on itself, is adapted to engage a ring 2B lsecured to the front engaged and disengaged. Thus, the spring member engages the socket member at right angles to the -axis of the watch strap, which latter engages ring 26. In order to disengage the spring member from the socket member, it is necessary to compress wall 2| by forcing lug 24 outwardly, thereby freeing the detent shoulder 22 from the upper wall of cross-piece I8. After such compression, the spring member is lowered out of the socket member. In order to form an engage-Y ment between the spring member and the socket member, the former is merely orced into the bot- Ytom opening I 9 of the socket member until a click yis heard indicating engagement between detent shoulder 22 andthe upper wall of cross-piece i8.

In Figure 5 is shown a Watch I0 having -a socket memberand spring member as described. A link 3| is secured to the front w-all 25 of the spring member, the said link being connected with a bar 33 of a clip 34 by means of a link 32, the clip 34 having the usual securing pin 35 thereon. In Figure 6 is shown a medallion Illa instead of a 30 thereto a connecting member.

watch and is secured to a iiexible cord 36 engaging a ring 31, the latter being connected Ito a link or ring 3| by means of link 32.

The separable clasp above described is thus made to operate at right angles to the axis of the connected article of jewelry to the supporting member therewith. The only way in which the separable clasp may become disengaged, is by compression of the spring member and downward pressure thereon at right angles to the axis of the supporting member such as a strap, iieXlble cord, chain or bar. Such means of engagement insures safety of connection between an article of jewelry 4and its supporting piece.

I wish it understood that minor changes and variations in the material, construction, location,

integration and shape of parts may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

.A separable clasp for a Watch including an inverted socket member projecting from and secured to the edge of said watch and having an .opening spaced above the back thereof, a resilient separable latching member having inverted V- shapedwalls engageable within said socket and an upwardly turned outer wall engageable with and externally disposed of said socket member, the said outer wall being adapted to have secured JACK STERN. 

